The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-02-02

I
for the captains airs and graces were fas
wearing out his welcome, anc
he secretly sympathized with his much
afflicted job. g1iess they're out in tht
barn chamber, You better go with him
captain, if Won expect to find ienl-oui
Jobs dreadful thick-headed when h,
chooses to be-
Come along. my fine fellow said the
captain jocosely, collaring job and march
in. h,m off in the direction of the old red
barn under the hill. We don't need any
lantern in this bright moonlight, that is
one comfort
Where are the stairs7 demanded
the captain
There amt none, said JOB. Its a
ladder"
Up with you, then" said Meredith
but Job ,hrunk steadkisly back.
wouldn't for fifty dollars, said Joo,
Old Misireal Westerbook hung him.
selffrom the middle beam II years ago
and folks say he stands up there with a
rope around his neck every moonlight
night
stuff and nonesence ejacutated the
captain in accents of supreme contempt
.' You great cowardly lout. stay where
you are then, aud III 20 myself"
He sprlng nimbIy up the rounds of the
ladder and disappeared through the trap
door
What isit?" he called
The ghost2 Right under the middle
beam by the window was the place
where -
Bloekhead, l mean the string OF
bells"
Look for EN- yourself said Job,
sllkily. / don't know where they be
and what more, / don't care"
As the captain plunged into dark cor
nor, there WAS jingle, and the string OF
bells suspended from nail hit him di-
rectly on the neck, 50 like the grasp OF
death-cold fingers that ne could not
but start
oh" said the captain, neryonsly.
Here they are. Catch 'em, job Hol-
10 where's the trap-,ioor ?"
And it took the militianIn fully 50
seconds or more to realize that the trap
door was closed and fastened on the low
er side. He rushed TO the window and
threw it up, only to see job speeding up
the hill.
Hal-Io-o-oal7 yelled Capt Meredith
Come back, you scoundrel. you ill-condi-
toned lout you imp of evil! :"
job turned roun and executed that
peculiar gyration of the fingers in con-
nection vita the nasal protuberance
which Is supposed to express the extrem-
ity of scorn
You'll find the ladder on the barn
floor, cap'n,r hoote,l this young rebel.
And don't be afeari o the ghost. It's
very harmless if you let il alone.
But. JOb-Job, come back-I'm 10 be
at Mr.. Harrin-ton's at half-past seven, '
Don't worry hoarsely hawie,i Job
Miss SibyI won't wit very long afore
MIx'll be on hand
The captain danced up and down the
barn floor in an ecstaey of rage as Jot
disappeared over the crest of the hill
There was no use calling for help He
knew VERY well that if he possessed the
lungs of Boreas he could not have made
any one hear. He SAT shivering down
on the hay, starting nervousIy at the
sound Of Kicking Billy's feet among hi,
snug bed Of straw, and thinking how dis
agreeablv a bar Of moonlight which
streamed on down from a crack in th'
apex of the roof resemble,l tall, white
figure standing under the center beam
He could almost fancy the rope rounC
his nrck-pshaw And the captain jump
ed up again. with starting dew on hi
temples. even in the freezing atmosphere
Of the barn chamber.
Il won't wait another minute for him,
said Sibyl Harrington. eoloring mp viii
the tears in her blue eyes. Go on, girl
i shall spend the evening at home.
There's plenty Of room for you in ou
sleigh. Sibyl," coaxed her brother, t..
great. good-huinored athlete. Bessy
Brown will be glad 10 have you along
No, she will not, either" pouted Sib
Vi. As ifI were going to spoil all he
fun No-if can't have an escort Of my
own, I'll stay at home and mend stock
ings. And never-never will speak Il
Captain Meredith again -
Hosea Harrington was just opening hi
mouth to argue the matter with his sis
ter once more, when the door opened an,
in walked Max Crossley.
Sibyl jumped up. raliantly she neye
had been 80 glad to see honest Max il
all her life before
Not gone vet, sybil? Where is th'
captain -
don't know said sibyl, tartly
and don't care. Am I Captain Mere
iith's keeper
VIII you 60 with me ?
Yes, viii, sad Sibyl. the purpl
lights coming into her ewes and the sh,
smiles dimpling her lips.
OF course. said Max. / can't expec
to make myself as agreeable as the cit,
captain. but
The captain the captain y erie,
/ Sibyl, little irritably I'm sick of tn,
sound of his name, ! never want to Sc
+ him again, What nice new cutter thi
Is, and how coy the wolf robes are ="
Sibyl," whispered Max, as he touches
up the horse and fit her nesting close /
him, 4" is it for always
Yes, alwavs,r she answered
Jerusalem" +" said Farmer Wester
brook
( 1t was past 10 o'clock at night, and tn
/ old gentleman had come out, as be alway
/ did the last thing before retiring TO res
To see that Job had not set the barn o
I tire, and that the dumb members of tn
/ family were all safe and comfortable. a
do believe that's old Mike Wes,erbrook
ghost come to life again, poundin like a
possessed on the barn chamber fioor?"
" It's me-e-e! It's me-e-e, ~ brawled tn
captain, forgetting al the nicer distin,
/ tons of grammar in his delight 1t th